Apples
An Integrated Curriculum Unit that
Meets the Georgia Standards.
Developed by
Linda McCardle
Kindergarten Teacher
www.lindaslearninglinks.com
lmccardle@bellsouth.net
This unit is designed to meet the new Georgia
Performance Standards. As a thematic
teacher for over twenty years I find the
standards and themes to be a perfect fit! For
the past few years I have worked on
developing literacy centers, shared reading
and guided reading activities based on the
current reading research. Literacy centers
and activities are based on comprehension,
phonological awareness, vocabulary, phonics,
concepts of print and fluency.
The use of poetry, children’s literature and
music are used to teach skills and promote
reading and writing.
Apples
Big Ideas
There are changes that are visible during each season.
All living things have a life cycle.
Essential Questions
What is a life cycle?
What is a season?
What are the four seasons?
Task Description
Our class has been chosen to give tours at a local apple
farm. We must learn a lot of information about apples in
order to provide interesting tours at the apple farm.
Task (Individual Work)
Student will have to draw four pictures or sequence four
pictures that place the apple tree in its life cycle.
STANDARDS
(This unit will encompass the following Georgia
Performance Standards.
Language Arts
ELAKR1 (Concepts of Print)
ELAKR5 (Vocabulary)
ELAKR6 (Comprehension)
ELAKW1 (Writing)
Science
SKCS3 (Observing, Measuring)
SKP1 (Describe, Sort, Classify)
SKL2 (Similarities and Differences)
Mathematics
MKN1 (Connect numbers to quantify)
MKM1 (Measurement)
MKM2 (Calendar/Time)
MKD1 (Picture Graph)
Social Studies
SSKE1 (Jobs)
Ideas for Literacy Centers
* Life Cycle of the Apple tree puzzle (pictures on cd)
* Apple Star prints and poem (under poetry section)
Make a red apple shape, glue a smaller matching
white shape, glue black beans in a star pattern and
glue on poem.
* Apple pie sequencing ( a link can be found in Apples
Theme (www.lindaslearninglinks.com)
* “A is for Apple” (beginning sound of a) Choose
pictures that have the beginning sound of A and glue
on large apple.
* Apples Big, Apples Small – make a torn paper apple,
glue on poem found in poetry section.
* Illustrate the poem “Apples” with different media.
* Choose a season of the apple tree, make with torn
construction paper and colored tissue paper.
* Beginning sounds, R, G, Y – after introducing sounds
have students sort pictures and place under correct
beginning sound.
* Sort pictures of objects and place in red, yellow and
green categories.
* Listen to The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall; draw a
picture of your favorite apple tree season.
Ideas for Math Stations
* Make apple graphs (real and small Ellison dies in
yellow, red and green).
* More/Less basket of Apples (have three baskets,
place designated number of apples in the middle
basket; students place less on left basket and more
on right basket).
* Apple stamps (Stamp correct number of apples on
tree).
* Apples in a Basket (use apple erasers or red unifx
cubes in each child’s basket/ they will roll and
remove that number of apples from their basket.
First person to remove all the apples wins the
game).
* Ten Apples Up on Top – children draw pictures of
themselves, roll a die and then draw or stamp that
number of apples on top of their heads.
* Apple Sizes – have students order apples by size
* Have six apple shapes with numbers 1-6 on them.
Have students cut out apples, order 1-6 and place
then glue black beans on to match the number on
the apple.
Poetry
Apples Big
Apples big,
Apples small.
Guess what?
I like them all!
Apples
Red apples
Green apples
Yellow apples, too.
Big apples,
Little apples,
Shiny apples, too.
Crunchy apples
Soft apples
Rotten apples, ooh!!
In every apple near and far,
Is a happy little star!
Guided Reading
There are five emergent readers about apples on the
internet: www.kindergarten.com. They are pdf files and
are very inexpensive. They can be downloaded
immediately.
Email me if you are interested in 2 cds
that contain Kid pix files, a pocket chart,
powerpoints, Song charts and a song book
that go along with the other cd: Bonita
Bunny’s You’re the Apple of My Eye (8
Apple songs). Both cds are $10 plus s&h.
lmccardle@bellsouth.net